Aling Iska loves to talk

Some are saying that their lines of thinking are the same as those of Aling Iska. “Pareho daw silang mag-isip and they love it.” Hence, they said, they like to read the expressions and wittiness of Aling Iska, particularly when her subject is none other than the governor of Pampanga.
What they cannot convey on the Panlilio issue is being expressed in a simple way by Aling Iska in this column. I don’t know if Panlilio is also an avid reader of Aling Iska. How I wish he is.
Sometimes I think Aling Iska is better than this writer. She has avid readers and followers. I observe this because every time I do not write her opinions and when Aling Iska is absent in my column or when I do not write a column, they ask, “Where is Aling Iska?” Others are asking Aling Iska, “Don’t you write everyday?” Iyang babasan mi y Aling Iska, ala yang sinulat ngeni? I told them, “I am sorry, next time. Aling Iska will greet them, cross my heart.”
Well, when I started conversing with Aling Iska in this space, I just tried to change my style of writing. Just for a change, I used the Socratic method – giving a simple question and a straightforward answer, like the bystanders in the streets, to make it lively and active.
At first, I felt it was corny. However, when my three kids aged 10, 7 and 5 read and gave their comments on the amusing opinion of Aling Iska in Tagalog, I felt fulfilled because I was understood by my children. They know now their father’s job – not a clown, not a stage comedian but a simple writer - their breadwinner.
“Tay, ika bang susulat kang Aling Iska? Iyan ba ing obra mo? Pangaragul ku puwede ku bang sumulat kang Aling Iska?,” they asked me.
I felt fulfilled because writers like us only want to express opinions, articles, or write-ups just to be understood by their readers, and not impress on them -- or else you will be like a man shouting noise in the wilderness.
Now, I cannot let go of Aling Iska in my column. I want to give her more responsibilities, like accepting complaints from the people, conducting investigations, surveys and political analysis, etchetera, etchetera. Anyway, she is my reader’s favorite opinion writer.
However, let me remind you that Aling Iska’s comments and opinions are her own only, and the newspaper has no responsibility and accountability whether she hits you below the belt or cramps your nose.